PJ Shellhammer, Revolutionary War Patriot

Philip Jacob Shellhammer was my paternal GGGG Grandfather. His granddaughter was Catherine Shellhammer who married William E Smith of the “clotheshorse gene” story published earlier.

If any of my Smith relatives want to join the Daughters or Sons of the American Revolution, look no further than Philip Jacob Shellhammer. Our line is well established, and the story of his service is well documented … sort of.

Philip Jacob was the son of Hans George Shellhammer, who arrived in Philadelphia from Germany in September, 1753 with wife Anna Margaretha and three young children in tow. George took the oath of Allegiance to the King and sought his fortunes in the new world. Settling first in Heidelberg, about the time of the American Revolution he moved across the Blue Ridge Mountains into Penn Township. There he established a farm and lived out his life.

1770 map shows "Haydelberg." Penn was across the Blue Mountain, drained by the Lizard and Mahoning Creeks. See also Nescopeck Creek. Connecticut disputed ownership of the nearby Wyoming Valley. "Great Swamp" fills northeastern PA. See nearby reference to "Shades of Death!"

George and Margaretha’s youngest son Philip Jacob (known as PJ to his descendants) was born while the family resided in Heidelberg. In 1777, the young man turned eighteen just as the Pennsylvania Militia was being reorganized. It wasn’t until fifty-five years later, in 1832, that he formally related the story of his service in support of his pension application. Here is his recorded account:

On this thirtyeth day of October in the year of Our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Schuylkill of the State of Pennsylvania (the same being a Court of Record) Philip Jacob Shelhammer, a resident of West Penn Township in the County of Schuylkill, State of Pennsylvania, aged seventy three years, who being first duly sworn, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated. That he entered the service in West Penn Township Schuylkill County State of Pennsylvania (the place of his residence) in the year 1777 under Captain Peter Rick, Lieutenant Dewalt Kuhns in Colonel Geigers Regiment. That he was marched from West Penn Township, aforesaid, to Easton in Northampton County State of Pennsylvania from thence to New Brunswick in the State of New Jersey and from thence to Trenton in the same state, Where he remained until he was dismissed. That he was not engaged in any battle during this term of service. That he served for the Term of two months. That he did not receive any written discharge but was verbally dismissed.

Page from the actual pension file.

That he returned immediately to West Penn Township aforesaid (his place of residence). That about two years after his return from Trenton about the year 1779 he was enlisted in Weisenburg Township then of Northampton County (1) now of Lehigh County by one Captain Greenawalt, who gave him one thousand dollars in Continental money as hard money. He recolect that one hundred dollars of Continental money was then valued as one silver dollar. That he enlisted for Seven months and served under Captain Vanatta, Lieutenant John Moyer, and Ensign Scovie [note: Capt. Johannes Van Etten, 2nd Lieutenant John Myer and Ensign James Scoby].  That he was marched from Weisenburg Township aforesaid to Mahoning Valley in Northampton County and was stationed at the house of his brother Simon Shelhammer (2) about forty five miles from Easton under the command of Lieutenant Moyer to protect the inhabitants of that district of Country from the Indians. That after remaining there about three months he was marched with about thirty others by Lieutenant Moyer, Sergeant Kuhns, Ensign Scovie to Nescopeck Valley in the County of Luzerne State of Pennsylvania and that they there fought the Indians. That they lost about fifteen or sixteen men, killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. (3) That they were obliged to retreat. That Lieutenant Moyer, Sergeant Kuhns, and Ensign Scovie were all taken prisoners by the Indians but Lieutenant Moyer made his escape two or three days afterwards. That he returned to his post at Simon Shelhammers house and from thence he marched under Captain Vanatta towards the New York line about forty miles above Staustown, this side of the Delaware river. From thence they were marched to Straustown and there dismissed. That he served for the space of seven months That he received no written discharge but was verbally dismissed.

 

Much of the war in northeast Pennsylvania involved Indians

That he again entered the militia sometime about 1781 or 1782 as a substitute for a person whose name he cannot now recolect — that he march from West Penn Township, aforesaid, under the Command of Captain William Moyer in Colonel Geiger’s Regiment against the Indians to Mahoning Valley, aforesaid, and was there stationed. That he was not engaged in any battle during this term of service. That he served for two months and was then verbally dismissed and afterwards returned to West Penn Township, aforesaid.

That immediately after his return he entered the militia again as a substitute for a person whose name he cannot recolect but remembers that he lived in Whitehall Township Lehigh County. That he marched from West Penn Township, aforesaid, under Captain Reader to Mahoning Valley aforesaid. That their Company were divided in small parties and stationed at different places in the said Mahoning Valley. That during this term of service a party of Indians burnt the house of Rinewault in the night which was about a half mile from [Boswaldem?] where Captain Reader lay. That on the alarm being given, Captain Reader called them together to pursue the Indians but they made their escape. That he served two months and was then verbally dismissed.

That immediately after his dismissal aforesaid without returning home he entered the militia again as a substitute for a person whose name he cannot recollect and served for the space of two months under Captain Cassamer Greenmoyer in Mahoning Valley, aforesaid. That during this term of service the Indians killed one man and destroyed some Cattle. That after the service of two months he was verbally dismissed and returned home to West Penn Township, aforesaid.

That the three persons for whom he served as a substitute in the three last mentioned terms of service were at the time strangers to him and they paid him about seven dollars each in money and grain. That he was born in Heidelberg Township Northampton County and has a certificate of his birth (which took place in the year 1759) now in his possession. That since the Revolution he has lived in West Penn Township, aforesaid, That he has no documentary evidence of his service nor does he know of any person who can testify to the fact of his service except his brother Simon Shelhammer, who can testify to his service for the term of seven months service secondly above mentioned. That the whole of his service amounted to about fifteen months.

Soldiering must have agreed with PJ. Although militia enrollment for able-bodied men aged 18 to 53 was required, as it was relatively easy to avoid service by paying a fine or finding a substitute, yet it seems he sought opportunities. It is also striking that not once in his narrative does he mention fighting the British.

In 1784, the war over, PJ married Mary Elizabeth Donat and raised eight children. In 1790 he was finally paid for the last two months of service performed nine years earlier. No mention is made of the type of currency used; the new country had just begun to print federal money as state-produced continental currency was almost valueless.

The Pennsylvania pension roll of 1835 indicates that PJ was successful in his application. He was approved for 50 dollars per year, with a total of 150 dollars to date. 

PJ died in November 1836, aged 77, and is buried in Zion Stone Church Cemetery, New Ringold.

If any family members want to apply for Daughters or Sons of the American Revolution membership, let me know! PJ is DAR Ancestor A102709.

NOTES:

(1) In 1777 there were still relatively few counties in Pennsylvania. Northampton County was huge, extending to the New York state line. Luzerne County was formed in 1786 and Lehigh County in 1812.

(2) Simon Shellhammer lived in what is now East Penn Township.

 (3) This battle in the Nescopeck Valley (see map), commonly called the Sugar Loaf Massacre, occurred on 11 September 1780. Much more information can be found on the internet.